Which has more explorers & natives study in it...

[Kteni]

Beyond or Bigger?
My DS 8 has to study these topics for socials next year and he is JUST am emerging reader. I am going to focus on his reading this summer. I THINK he is more fit for doing Beyond really but if we worked hard, he may do OK in Bigger. But I was noticing Beyond and Bigger have similar history time zones, so I was wondering which would have more focus on Explorers or first contact with natives, or early native life ?

[Kteni]

I printed off the guide intros and read them. It seems there is is a unit on the first Thanksgiving in Beyond, but a lot more explorers focus in Bigger.

Question 2, how did y'all enjoy the science in colonial days component? It looks really interesting. My son also has to do habitats and Bgger uses a few One Small Square books (which we have just gotten ) so I am guessing it would be easy to add in a few more habitats to do?

[MomtoJGJE]

I'm trying to think... Off the top of my head I think LHFHG covers explorers more, just not as in depth. Beyond focuses on the pilgrims for a while, their journey to get over here. I think Bigger covers involvement with the native Americans more. I don't know that one of them covers both explorers and native Americans in depth? If you have to do both, then I'd probably say just put him in whatever guide he fits in best, get the history books from LHFHG and just read on your own time, and get some extra books on native Americans.

My girls have both loved Science in Colonial America. One Small Square books are great for habitats. But honestly, I'd just check to see which ones are used in future guides and use any others if he doesn't fit in Bigger.

Have you checked the placement chart to see where he falls?

[Kteni]

Thank you! Great points on just doing the extra reading!

He places in Beyond because of his reading and writing, but all else he is in Bigger. But the charts stress reading as key. I know it is only a matter of time for that reading to take off and be an ease and enjoyment for him. It is starting to surprise him that he can read more things easier . My daughter struggled a bit in reading until grade 4, then it was like a light went on and she became fluid fast. It seems he is close to that, so close. We started R&S English 2 in march and I am SO pleased with how it is bringing his sentence writing along! So, seeing as HOD all ready uses R&S, I was thrilled. Just trying to make the best choice, sigh.

[MomtoJGJE]

If his reading and writing places in Beyond, then I'd use Beyond. If his reading and writing does take off you could "speed up" by doing a couple of weeks extra each year (or school year round) and by doing Preparing and up as 5 days per week instead of 4. But if his reading and writing places him in Beyond, Bigger might be too much.

Do you know exactly what he has to cover as far as explorers and Native Americans? Generally elementary topics are quite broad, so you'd get plenty in Beyond. The only thing I could see differently is if you had a cover school that expected specific topics that aren't covered in HOD. In which case I'd get books on those specific topics and read them throughout the year. Not necessarily as a part of "school"

[my3sons]

I'd suggest Beyond Little Hearts! Having moved through all the HOD guides and having a ds going into high school, I cannot stress how important having dc appropriately placed in reading and writing skills is! Correct placement = an enjoyable homeschooling experience that moves dc along academically solidly from year to year. Beyond is a different approach than Bigger, and both have important skills academically. The history is wonderful in both! In Beyond, it is early American history and more on events in general. Bigger Hearts is a biographical approach, so it felt totally different to us. Both use books, activities, and projects you've not likely read or done that are a blast, so I think they'll be a new experience even if ds has had some of the topics already. HTH!

In Christ,
Julie